What are the barriers to implementing anti-racist policy and practice in school?
April 1, 2025 | 2d | Giglets News
Following the Equalities Act (2010), schools have a legal duty to ensure that discrimination of any kind is recorded, reported and responded to appropriately. In more recent years, updates to statutory frameworks such as KCSIE and Public Sector Equality Duty have delivered additional responsibilities for schools. However, school leaders often report barriers to enacting these duties.
Some of the issues commonly heard are:
Lack of Awareness and Training: Professional development on anti-racism is often inconsistent or insufficient.
Resistance to Change: Some stakeholders, including staff, parents, or community members, may resist anti-racist policies due to discomfort, denial of systemic racism, or fear of change.
Lack of Representation: Leadership and staff often lack diversity, making it harder to challenge biases or ensure policies reflect diverse perspectives.
Some of the strategies to dismantle these barriers include:
Prioritise Professional Development: Invest in ongoing training that builds cultural competence and equips educators to address racism confidently.
Foster Open Dialogue: Create safe spaces for discussing racism and biases among staff, students, and the community.
Embed Anti-Racism in School Culture: Incorporate anti-racist principles into the curriculum, hiring practices, and leadership decisions.
Diversify Leadership and Staff: Actively recruit and retain educators and leaders from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.
Use Data to Drive Change: Collect, analyse, and act on data to identify and address racial disparities in academic outcomes and disciplinary actions.
Educational leaders play a crucial role in building trust and mobilising the school community to tackle systemic racism. By addressing these barriers strategically, schools can create an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and empowered.
ILT Education UK (formally Giglets Education) held an informative webinar, led by Audrey Pantelis and Natalie Jones, on how to break down these barriers. And, most importantly, how to build the mindset necessary to embed an anti-racist approach across educational settings. You can watch the full webinar here.
This guest blog was written by Audrey Pantelis - education consultant and inclusion coach, following the webinar mentioned above.
